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Native Californian, biologist, wildlife conservation consultant, retired Smithsonian scientist, father of two daughters, grandfather of 4 small primates. INTJ. Believes nature is infinitely more interesting than shopping malls. Born 100 years too late.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Wiring the owl box



I just put it up and I doubt any self-respecting screech owl will move in.

Not in an owl box 40 feet from a house with a barking dog.

It's not like I had a lot of choices --  the power cord is only 60 feet long.






I attached the cam in the upper left corner of the box.

If anything uses it, I suspect it'll be a giant ninja attack squirrel.

So my challenge, besides getting up into the tree and hanging the thing, was protecting it.




I decided to shield the cam with quarter inch wire mesh, with a hole large enough for the camera's unobstructed view.

Unfortunately, a hole big enough for the camera is also big enough for a squirrel's head.


I asked the redhead to standby while I mounted it in the tree.

It was a bear getting it up there.

I strapped it on with bungie cords before bolting it in place.

"You're too old to be climbing trees", she remarked.

"You're right", I replied, "but try to you break my fall, okay?

No response.

"Hey, I'm not ready to be sitting in front of a TV tray with a comforter on my lap straining soup with my mustache."

"That may be", she said, "but don't expect me to break your fall."

3 comments:

Owlman said...

Woooow! How high did you mount the box? I feel you're pain - getting an owl box mounted in a tree by yourself is a tricky prospect. Luckily guys like us can pull it off without breaking........ ;-)

owlman said...

Hey Codger I've heard the same thing from my wife and finally have to agree with her.
Have you considered a climbing harness?

Scott said...

hardware hooks (one for the pulley eye and one on the box)a small pulley, and 1/4" clothesline rope.